At WSDS 2026 hosted by TERI, ministers and global climate leaders call for green maritime transformation, Himalayan resilience, climate finance reform and accelerated international cooperation.
On the day 2 of the 25th edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2026 (WSDS 2026), organised by TERI, global discussions intensified on nature-positive development, green industrial transformation, future technologies, and the urgent need to strengthen multilateral cooperation to tackle climate and development challenges.
India’s Maritime Sector Anchors Sustainability Push
Sarbananda Sonowal , Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways addressing a high-level plenary highlighted India’s shift from capacity expansion to sustainability-led maritime governance.
He added India’s maritime transformation is guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reform-driven vision, placing green growth at the centre of economic development. The country is committing to renewable energy adoption at ports, carbon neutrality, development of green shipping corridors, and scaling up green hydrogen production. Institutional reforms and global partnerships, he added, are supporting this transition.
Multilateralism Framed as Essential for Climate Survival
A key ministerial session titled “Multilateralism as a Force for Hope and Impact” underlined the central role of global cooperation in responding to climate risks and ecological stress.
Sri Lanka’s Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said the country has achieved near-universal electricity access, with renewables contributing about 50% of total power generation and a target of 70% by 2030. However, he stressed that real transformation requires collective will and international cooperation beyond policy commitments.
Nepal’s Forests and Environment Minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagain warned of the accelerating impacts of climate change on the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, noting that melting mountains and degraded ecosystems have regional consequences. He emphasised that air pollution and river systems link South Asian nations, making climate action a shared responsibility.
From the Maldives, Minister of State for Tourism and Environment Muaviyath Mohamed described multilateralism as a matter of national survival for the low-lying island nation, where rising sea levels threaten existence. He cited strengthened coral reef monitoring and renewable energy deployment as outcomes of international partnerships.
Concerns Over Global Climate Governance
Jochen Flasbarth, Germany’s State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry expressed concern over pressures faced by small island nations supporting shipping decarbonisation at the International Maritime Organization, warning that undermining collective action weakens global climate governance.
Sweden’s Climate Ambassador Mattias Frumerie said multilateralism remains central to climate action, with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at its core. He highlighted initiatives such as the Leadership Group for Industry Transition and the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge as platforms accelerating green transition efforts.
Urbanisation, Technology and Climate Finance in Focus
In a global leadership address, Anacláudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, pointed to rapid urbanisation in South Asia and Africa as a growing challenge.
She stressed that technology is essential for smarter urban planning, risk mapping, improved governance, and sustainable construction to protect vulnerable communities from climate shocks.
Dechen Tsering, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said the real barrier to climate and nature action is finance.
She called for reforming financial systems to align public spending with climate goals, repurpose harmful subsidies, and mobilise private capital at scale.
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Environment Department, underlined that nature-based solutions must be treated as long-term public assets rather than commodities. She said carbon and green credit mechanisms should complement — not replace — legal protections, scientific planning and community participation.
Himalayan Coalition and Green Industry Momentum
A flagship session on building a Himalayan coalition for sustainable development brought renewed attention to mountain ecosystems. Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Governor of Manipur, called for integrating technology, data and community participation to build resilience.
He also suggested exploring a carefully regulated, community-centric carbon framework that balances economic opportunity with environmental integrity.
Across sessions, WSDS 2026 spotlighted startup-led climate innovations, green and resilient infrastructure, demand creation for green steel through public procurement, and the leadership of women in biodiversity conservation and land restoration.
As the summit progresses, the message from global policymakers and climate leaders is unequivocal: incremental approaches are no longer sufficient.
The decade ahead demands science-based, finance-backed and community-driven transformation to secure a sustainable and equitable future.